Ephraim was family.

Andy held the grocery bags in her arms as Miranda wouldn't let it go about Ephraim.

Asking after her as the screen door was held open for her. "Is he an Uncle to you?"

Andy silently set down the bags on the counter.

Miranda saw Andrea's face tense as she began to unpack groceries.

"Ephraim not my uncle. Miranda."

Wrapping her arms around Andrea, bringing herself into her. "Talk to me, no secrets." Turning around into Mir, Andy's light chestnut head bent, kissing her shoulder. "Fine. No secrets."

Grazing her finger along Mir's defined cheekbone, bringing her close to her. "Ephraim is my grandfather's brother. My Great Uncle. We don't talk. He doesn't care for my choices in life meaning I didn't become what all Stowe-Selton family become and I don't care for him. We avoid each other. It's great that way. I haven't seen him in two years. That's a good thing."

Miranda listened intently to her as she handed Andy this and that from their shopping bags, fresh corn from Seaside Farm Market, along with her and Andy's fruit choices from there and Wade's Food Mart. Andy liked to eat anything as she discovered.

Mir had her tasting strawberries and made her sniff a few organic honeys and jams, both admired the array of plants and flowers at the market, her pale fingers caressing petals, Andrea didn't buy her any flowers.

"Why don't you and Ephraim talk?" Miranda asked, handing Andy a box of cereal.

Andy exhaled out, she knew Miranda's ways from Runway once, question softly, Runway's waspish Torquemada, trust Mir to want to know everything about her family, especially Ephraim which was a chaotic and turbulent relationship they had. Andy didn't exactly follow the Selton-Stowe plan.

Not ending up being a doctor or a lawyer.

No MBA or Doctorate on her wall.

She was one big disappointment to him in everything then and now.

"Because we don't have much to say. Okay?" Andy snapped out.

Ephraim couldn't even be civil to Doña. Andy swore Jonas must've been adopted, if not for each of them sharing the same eyes.

Andy breathed out, she didn't mean to sound irritated and especially not to Mir. "Hon. Ephraim, isn't who I want to spend time talking about right now. Didn't we get pies?"

Knowing Andy was changing the subject, Miranda held out the tied boxes she was placing on the counter. Andy grinned at it. Mmmm a peach and a cherry one. She loved pie.

Miranda pondered Andy's words of what Stowe-Selton's become.

"What do Stowe-Selton's become Andrea?"

Andy pulled open a cabinet with a yank. "Lawyers. Doctors. Not school teachers."

Miranda brushed her arm reassuringly. "I happen to greatly value teachers. One especially."

"Oh you do." Andy grinned as Miranda wrapped an arm around her waist, she set the DVDs rentals for Car and Cass down on the counter.

"Education is very important. You shape the future." Miranda seriously stated. Andy nodded her head in agreement.

Miranda glanced over at the bag, Andrea in the video rental store had been holding out a few choices to her, Miranda liked period films, Andy informed her, that she liked action films. Only action films. Groaning inside, Andy was like Stephen.

Not letting her see her selections as she paid for them.

Miranda didn't like action.

Praying it wasn't Taken 4.

Peeking in the bag for her daughters, reading the titles, quirking her lips upwards. Action films right. It seems she was falling in love with an Austen/Pixar cinephile.

Meeting her look. "I see I have quite an evening of action films."

Andy winked, she also had something for Car other than a deserved break and no chores for a few days, Andy decided to relent. Though losing to Caroline the other day, meant she was on dishwashing duty for two weeks.

Andy had got Car, a gift wrapped replacement for lobbing her Ipod over The Wright Memorial Bridge.

To be even, Andy got a glass blown charm bracelet for Cassidy.

Manicured fingers made out what it was for Caroline from Andy.

Andy explained with a sly grin. "Car's Ipod had an unfortunate unavoidable encounter with water."

Miranda knew all too well about Andy's habit of submersing electronics.

"Really Andrea you and aquatics."

Miranda knew Caroline must have pushed Andy to do so, as she took out a small bag of treats for Joe DiMaggio. "You're really spoiling my dog." Andy pointed out.

"He's getting use to you around."

Miranda just smiled, that wasn't a bad thing, was it. Joe Di Maggio was a wonderful bed companion. He let her cuddle him, she squished and mushed his face, talking to him about his master, and he didn't hog sheets.

"Andy Sachs are you jealous of Joe and my sleeping arrangements?" Miranda seriously arched her elegant brow.

Andy's smile widened to just a teasing of teeth behind her defined lips, moving purposely to her as she pressed her to the open freezer.

Making Miranda feel the coolness against her back through the fabric of her summer sheath dress and bare shoulders as her pashmina slid down.

"Immensely." Running her fingers slowly along Miranda's thin dress straps, lifting one up, under her warm finger. "He gets you in bed every night."

"Joe is loyal. Loving. He can fetch." Miranda's mouth parted as Andy began kissing her jaw, drawing back with lusty eyes on her.

"Hey. I am loyal and loving too. I can fetch. I just don't shed or drool. Joe might have competing company for you in bed soon."

Leaning her mouth close to Mir's mouth. "Arff."

Kissing the tip of her silver haired beauty's chin.

"I got something for you, too. Give me a sec."

Miranda was staring at Andy's hands holding them out to her. "Some flowers."

Miranda saw them. It was flowers in a way. Books of, "Lilacs by Manet. Irises and a Vase of Pink Roses by Van Gogh. Daisy Miller by Henry James. I didn't know you're favorite?" Andy shared this shyly.

Miranda took them. Very clever.

"They don't need water."

She wished Miranda would just not go tonight. All she had to do was cancel with Kit, and stay and be near her. In her head planning how they could spend a few hours, just cuddling on the couch in the screened-in porch.

With the weather expected to be turning bad, Mir could wear her chunky sweater, she'd light a fire in the fireplace, and they could eat "rainy day food." Show her how amazing she was at Pictionary.

Share with Caroline how she'd duped her, told the TV didn't work. Caroline would be so mad. Missing the VMA awards.

When Andy was her age, she and Jill were given quarters at Dee's Diner for the jukebox by Jonas, which was the closest thing to TV they were going to see all summer.

Mind you Dee's Diner only had songs popular in the 60s to choose from.

Later Andy planned if the rain didn't come, they could walk barefoot on the beach to ogle the stars or light a bonfire and kiss some more, Andy liked kissing Miranda as much as possible, if she let go of him, go to bed with her with the sprinkle of sand in the sheets and not let go of her till morning no till noon on Sunday.

It was Friday late afternoon now.

Watching how in sync they were with one another, Doña saw them together.

"Andrea we're supposed to be putting away all of these..." Losing her words as strong hands ran along her, not interested in putting the milk or juice cartons away, making Miranda moan out at a sensuous mouth grazing her jaw, nuzzling the side of her neck.

"I thought you once could multitask with me around?" Rebuking bossily which Andy thought was cute, her hands squeezed her, pulled to her.

"Once I could but my hands are full now." Andy smiled against her skin as she trailed her kisses along her jaw to her ear, pressed to the sink, stroking her sides.

Imploring with a few kisses to Mir's face, wetting along her porcelain skin. "Don't go with Kit…stay with me. Let me make you, lamb with rosemary and peach chutney… new potatoes…baby peas…

Miranda sighed. She didn't really like peas. Yes. They were good for her and Andrea wanted to make them for her.

"We can look at the stars tonight…cupping Miranda's face, with her warm fingers. "Miranda. I want…I want to try to sleep with you."

Andy's eyes held her blue, she meant it.

Her thumb stroked Mir's knuckles. "Later if we try to be together… I have to tell you something first."

Andrea wanted to sleep with her tonight? Oh god. Miranda swallowed hard at that.

She hadn't had sex in years. When she did, it wasn't great, it was just the expected quick mechanism of sharing a bed with Stephen.

Grazing her nails along Andy's collarbone, sleeping with Andy tonight, it wouldn't be like anything she knew or expected, like their kiss that night on the beach.

Miranda's own hands trembled as Andy weaved her long tapered fingers through the silvery strands of her hair, Miranda moaned out low, responding to Andy's soft caresses. Knowing she was almost gone for a Folgers drinking, work boot wearing brunette about to give in and stand Kit up.

Miranda never shirked her Runway duties. It was time to start.

She didn't really have to go tonight. Kit would have to understand. Deciding to stay with Andy. Let her burn dinner and feed her peas for all she cared, crinkling her eyes on Andy tenderly. Trailing her hand slowly down and in Andy's buttoned down shirt, her pink lips parting.

"Andy I accept dinner and perhaps more offered."

Her words were met by Andy squeezing her in happy response. Miranda was staying.

"Andy you have visitors."

Andy let go of Miranda's waist at seeing Alex Cabot with Olivia Benson standing there.

"Hello again. Andy can we talk about Rhodri Nolan?"

Whoever Rhodri Nolan was, Miranda saw Andy's mouth harden and her eyes lose their light in them.

Fingers hastily pressed it to shut off.

Wrapping her arms around herself. He remembered her. She was his fourth victim. The only living one. His voice on the screen, talking about her. Willing herself to remember he wasn't near her.

Rhodri was in prison.

"It's going to happen next month." Olivia shared this, gently letting Alex beside her, explain more.

Andy pressed her mouth thin, taking in Alex Cabot's careful choices of what happens next.

"Andy you don't have to be there."

Bile filling her mouth, Andy held her back of her hand to her trembling mouth. He wanted to see her.

Why? Didn't he get off enough on degrading and defiling her that night, he raped her.

She could not hear Alex's words at all or any of Olivia's. The only sound she could hear, was the screaming of her soul. Rhodri spoke on screen with savage pleasure about everything he did to her.

Attacking her, he almost broke her will to survive. He almost made her think she couldn't be near someone again ever. He'd stained her. Knowing she'd never forget him.

"Did he talk about the tape he made of me?" Andy asked numbly, digging her nails into her arms.

"Yes. Nolan said he only made one copy. We haven't recovered it, it wasn't where he said it would be. It will be only seen by me, Olivia, the D.A. and his lawyer. Also Judge Castalano." Alex informed Andy.

"Andy. It is your choice to see him or not." Olivia reached out her hand to grasp Andy's shoulder in comfort.

She'd first met Olivia Benson, hours after that life altering night, she was there with her, through the rape kit, which took five hours.

Then there was shots and pills for all kinds of STDs, that was something she did for a year, she was suggested to see a therapist later and Andy knew that Olivia was always working on the case of her rape for the last few years.

Then Andy got the news, Olivia got him. Actually Andy's rape kit did.

"I'll have to think about it. You'll have my answer to about seeing him in a few days. Thank you Olivia. Alex, for coming. Could you not say anything to Doña or to my…

Andy weighed her words carefully. Miranda wasn't her girlfriend or partner.

"To Miranda …please just don't."

Olivia understood. Kindly letting Andy know with her look, she wouldn't say anything. Showing themselves out.

Andy watched them go from her study, shutting the door, her eyes wet, picking up the file and throwing a few things off her desk with a sweep of her arm, sinking down to her knees distraught, wiping at her lids, she had to get out of here. It would be better, to not be near Miranda for a few days.

She couldn't be with her. Not like this.

Not after hearing Nolan describe having her. How she tasted. How she felt with him in her.

Staring at the screen earlier, brought him crashing back into her.

She couldn't be around Miranda. Not now. Andy knew, she had to go away for a few days. Bad weather or not.

Packing frantic, rolling a few things up, opening drawers, shoving each thing she'd need in her rucksack, Joe whined as she grabbed a sleeping bag and a pair of hiking boots.

Miranda fingers almost typed a name on her screen search. Rhodri Nolan on her IPad but looked up, seeing both visitors leaving.

Doña had only said, they were friends of Andy's visiting.

Recognizing one of them now, her long blonde hair blew as she was taking off glasses to wipe sand from her them, Miranda saw it was Alexandra. Why was ADA Cabot here?

Miranda knew Alexandra Cabot, Assistant District Attorney of New York, from being seated together at a few benefits in the city she attended. How did Andy know her?

Doña took her pale hand in hers, squeezing it. "Olivia and Miss Cabot helped Andy from that night."

Miranda understood now. When Andy was hurt from that night from the violent mugging, Alexandra must have handled her case.

"Alexandra." Miranda called after. '' You're a long way from the city." Miranda greeted the striking blonde who smiled back at her.

Alex Cabot knew Miranda Priestly instantly, from attending many charity events, like the recent one she attended in March for children with cancer. Both were seated at the same table.

"Miranda. Hello. Good to see you again. Yes, it is a long way from the city." Alex greeted back friendly.

Olivia gave Alex a look that she caught on. This was who Andy meant not to say anything to. She gave her word she wouldn't. Olivia never broke a promise to a victim.

"We came to see Andy. Unfortunately she doesn't live close enough to just hop the subway, I'm following up her case on a few new developments." Alex shared cryptically.

Miranda blinked. Alexandra was here about Andy's attack. What new developments to it?

"Which we have done now and Andy is doing so much better, isn't she Alex?"

Alex agreed, about Andy.

"It's her decision what we've shared with her, she has some time to think about it. Hi Dona." Olivia greeted Andy's grandmother warmly.

Holding out her hand to Miranda. "Sorry. I'm Olivia. Olivia Benson."

Taking Olivia's hand in introduction, clasping it. "Miranda Priestly."

"You work with Alexandra. Are you partners in law with Alexandra, Olivia?" Miranda took in her clothes, she didn't dress like working for the DA.

"Yes. We do work together. Guess one could call it sort of partners in law in a way." Smiling back at Alex.

Eyes twinkling at the word partners.

"I'm a Detective. Miranda."

Miranda stared at her. Olivia was a police officer.

"Alex and I didn't mean to disturb your time with Andy, we do have to be going, Alex."

Staring back at Olivia, Alex agreed. "Yes. We do. Bye, Miranda. Hope to see you again."

The darker haired Olivia and paler Alex walked to their car and drove off away from the guest house.

Miranda was still distracted with thoughts of Alexandra Cabot, she only handled serious cases as Dona caught her attention, holding out the album she'd found.

"This is Andy at sixteen."

Miranda looked at it. Andy was gangly cute at that age.

"Here she is at a swimming competition, she's a strong swimmer and here at graduation…this is Jill. Andy's older sister, she was just accepted for her residency at Mass General before the accident."

Miranda studied the pictures, Cassidy and Caroline studied a few eagerly, and she could see Jill looked quite a bit like Andrea but with a different shyer smile.

Cassidy snorted at a few pictures on the holidays.

Seeing old newspaper clippings of Doña, who was once called not just The Dove, also the Voce Regina. "Did you really duel Callas?" Nigel had to ask her.

He'd read Callas bowed to her during the performance, and then there was the story that once, someone was reading a book through her solo at Teatro di San Carlo and she stopped the conductor and the orchestra, fixing the reader with a haughty stare, their turning pages of a book was distracting her.

"Perhaps." Doña wouldn't elaborate further to this duel.

Miranda saw Andy had a lot of both, Doña and Jonas in her features, especially the slant and shape of her lovely eyes. Tracing one of Andy probably taken just before meeting her.

"Can Andy sing?" Caroline asked curious.

"No Andy is like Jonas, dreadfully tone deaf." Car and Cassidy laughed at that.

"Can she even play an instrument?" Car asked her.

"No. I once tried to teach her notes. It was a long afternoon." Doña rolled her eyes.

Miranda asked out, tracing one of image Andy at college. "Who is Rhodri Nolan to Andy?"

Doña stopped, her smile fading at his name said by Miranda. "Rhodri is …

"Rhodri Nolan is somebody you don't need to know. Miranda." Andy answered coldly, holding her rucksack in her hand.

Andy was acting like the first time Caroline came here.

A big gruff grumpy asshole.

Seeing the backpack, in Andy's hand. "Where are you going?" Miranda questioned out. Andrea didn't seem like herself, she could see it in her eyes, something was really upsetting her.

"Kevin will drive you to Roselawn, with Kit tonight. I have to go. I'll be back in a few days."

Miranda stared at Andy. She wasn't going with Kit tonight. Where was she going for a few days? Why right now?

"What about spending tonight with me?" Miranda looked confused at Andy and her sudden travel plans. Nigel pretended he hadn't heard and Emily followed suit, both suddenly engrossed with Doña's albums of pictures.

"That's not happening now. Sorry." Shrugging briskly. Andy didn't even look at her or sound like she meant her 'sorry' to her.

Why was Andy acting like this to her?

Miranda followed right after Andrea. "Andy. I thought we were going to spend tonight together, you said so."

Halting at the distant cold look Andy gave to her. "Plans change. Miranda. Go have Kit dance to your tune, if you don't like, because it's not going to be me anymore."

Miranda's posture went rigid. Controlling her anger and outrage at being spoken to like that.

Stroking her toned arm under her soft hand, grazing Andy's inner arm with her silky fingers. "What's happened, Andy? Tell me. No secrets remember."

Andy stared at her. Rhodri Nolan was one person she wasn't sharing anything about. Ever. Not with Miranda.

Andy stilled for a second at her touch. "Miranda. I have to go." at the screened door, opening it, turning back to Miranda's face.

"I think we need to step back. From Us. Miranda. You go spend tonight with Kit. Be with Kit if you want…he's better for you. This…us. It isn't going to be me and you now. I-I can't do this. Bye Miranda."

Leaving Miranda without a look back to her.

Ignoring her calling after her.

Doña told her the way, just follow the jogging path into the wooded trail.

That was over a three hours ago.

Andy Sachs would be a person who hikes. Contrary to Seventh Avenue beliefs, Miranda was not born with fancy Blahniks on.

Miranda did own a pair of sneakers, for tennis. She also wore them, when she ran on her treadmill at home every morning.

She'd grabbed one of Andy's large fleeces, looking up at the sky. Rain was coming soon.

Terrific. She was lost, just great, she was going to be eaten by bears or bobcats or not found for a month.

She never was outdoorsy.

Concrete jungles she could handle but not out in the woodsy trails.

James took the girls to Girl Scouts. Stephen subscribed to an L.L Bean catalog monthly and bought maple syrup from Vermont from a trip.

The reserve was getting woodsier as she stopped.

Miranda froze at hands on her, they looped around her hips, going rigid, feeling a lean lanky wiry build press up against her.

"Hold still." Knowing that voice, against her ear, turning her relieved face to Andy's.

Andy's dark (not happy to see Mir here) eyes met hers.

Quieted as she silently mouthed her greeting towards Andy. "Mir. Quiet. Don't startle them."

Startle what? Tell her it wasn't a snake. Following Andy's eyes carefully, seeing them made her mouth quirk upwards, they were beautiful, both watched them, white-tailed deers, close to them in these woods.

They were so gentle in grazing. The fawns with babies were moving off.

Still held against Andy, Miranda's was pressed against Andy's pelvis. "I hope hunters don't get them."

Hunters! Miranda queasily agreed with Andy, the same hope.

Andy still gripped her arm. "Miranda! What are you doing out here, just go back." Andy meant it. Letting her grip of Miranda go.

"No. I'm not doing that. I came to find you and talk." Miranda stubbornly informed, as she kept walking with Andy, keeping up.

"You can't be here with me." Andy was in no mood for Priestly.

"Why? Are you going to try to hurt yourself?" Looking at Andy warily.

Miranda's words sunk in, making Andy stop hiking. Whirling around to face her. Miranda knew about that. How the hell did she know? Did Doña tell her?

"How did you know about that?"

Miranda followed along the uneven path, behind Andy. "Marybeth said you come out here. She and Doña worry, that you won't come back one day." Miranda shared these fears of two people who really cared about her a lot, to Andy, whose piercing eyes were locked on hers.

"Why do they need to worry Andrea?" Miranda asked her softly but seriously.

"Do you really want to hurt yourself?" Miranda said it, but held her breath, she needed to know if it was true.

Andy looked away from her, not answering Miranda's questions, deliberately ignoring her by glancing up at the worsening sky.

Miranda was wrong and so was Marybeth and Dona.

She never came here to hurt herself. She always only came here to think and be away from everything.

Get Rhodri out of her system, talk sometimes to Jill, try to be like before, Andy heard it, thunder, it was going to pour. And any minute.

Clasping Mir's hand in hers. Pulled along. "Miranda follow me."

Torrential teeming rain came down on them, heavily soaking both as they ran for cover, Andy guided her to it. Opening the door, with a shove, it beat out one of the Algonquin caves Andy use to explore with Jill as kids.

Wiping at her short tendrils in her face, slicking them back as she looked over at Mir, suppressing a small chuckle at a drenched Miranda, whose light hair was matted to her face, holding her finger up not to dare.

Andy didn't. She just swallows an almost rogue snort.

Andy got something out of her pack for her. ''Here." Tossing a blanket to her.

Luckily Andy knew how to make a fire, shrugging off her pack and unzipping it, rummaging for a pro lighter.

Wrapping her arms around her waist, Miranda stared right at Andy, who crumpled some paper and lit it, both of them illuminated by the firelight.

She felt she deserved an explanation at least from Andy. "Aren't you going to say something? Don't you think I deserve an explanation to this?"

"To what?" Andy felt how drenched she was. Damn it. She was going to have to take this off and lose a day from this weather hindering her trekking and Miranda.

"To how you're being to me. Deciding to go off for days with just a 'sorry', telling me to go be with Kit. Andy! I do not make anyone dance to my tune."

Andy began examining her wet backpack silently.

"You were going to make me dinner…we were going to make love." Miranda said this softly to Andy.

Andy didn't look at her, busying herself with searching through her gear.

"Who is Rhodri Nolan?" Miranda asked out of the blue, rubbing her damp arms.

Andy still just rummaged through her waterlogged bag.

Met with silence from Andy, her defined brows arched in annoyance, that she should've gone kayaking. Dragons couldn't swim swamps.

Andrea was ignoring her. Deliberately. "Fine. Be this way. Don't say anything then. I'll just go." Miranda got up to leave.

Since Andrea wasn't going to be a grown up and just talk about this with her, share herself with her like she wanted most with this brunette, to have a closeness.

She felt like Andrea was holding back. Was it because she was old?

Was that it?

In bed at Marybeth's, she said she loved her. Wait, Miranda just realized, Andy never said it back.

That's what it was. Andy didn't say it back to her.

Irritation only a Sachs could goad her with, was building inside her.

"All I want from you, Andy is to really share things with me, anything really, even silly things. Or difficult things like about that night you were hurt so badly." Miranda softly spoke to Andy who wouldn't even turn and look at her.

"Just try to attempt to tell me about it. You have nightmares. Andrea. I know it wasn't from a car accident. Marybeth told me you were hurt. I know I wasn't there for you, if I'd known what had happened, how you were hurt, I would've been. I swear, I would Andy."

Andy just looked at the flames.

Seeing Andrea closed off, she wasn't about to try to even do this one thing for her. Andy's wall was up. Fine. She was leaving. Andrea made her choice. She was making hers by leaving her.

Miranda spoke to Andy's back. "Why is it now, you don't want us?" Her voice vibrated hurt, hurt Andy caused.

Andy didn't say anything back.

"Is it me, Andy? Is that it?" Met with just more silence from her.

Miranda cut her eyes at Andy's back, she plucked up the blanket, feeling how soaked through she was, wrapping its warm folds around her.

Opening the door, seeing the downpour, deciding against braving outside, she'd stay here and fume until the rain stopped.

Lovely, just lovely, she was stuck with don't say a word to her Andrea, trapped together till this rain storm cleared up, however long that took, it looked and sounded like it was getting worse out there.

Pressing her lips together tightly. Budget cut meetings with Irving was less purgatory.

Tucking her legs up, tight against her body, wiping at her eyes. She wasn't crying. It was pine and from the rain.

"Hungry?"

Andy held out and offered an organic granola bar or a wrapped tortilla with some squeezy honey and peanut butter. Taking out a Brunton Flip N' Drip. This would warm them both up.

This was probably the only time in her life, Miranda refused coffee.

Icily glaring with a firm shake of her head. No, she did want coffee or anything from Sachs ever again. Hoping when she leaves. Bears attack Andy.

This was going to be a long few hours of rain in this small space with Miranda.

Andy just chewed on a Nature Trail as Miranda talked, working herself up in an icy snit. "What am I doing here really? I am not Danielle Boone. I speak four languages fluently. I sit on The Met and the CFDA boards. I'm going back to the city and I am going to somehow forget about you. I will you know. I'll start learning knitting to relax it's like yoga and Instagraming and I'll try Tinder or Her."

Who was she kidding, Tinder or Her wasn't going to help her get over almost being with Andrea.

She was never going to be the same. Andrea could never be replaced.

Unlacing her wet sneakers upset, shoving them off. Wiping at her calves with the blanket. "I have great legs. You'll never enjoy them now."

Andy agreed with her. Admiring them up and down with an appreciative look. "You sure do. Miranda."

Making Miranda cover them up, her cheeks pinking.

"All thanks to Teitur. I might just sleep with him." Miranda said spitefully, looking right at Andy. For any reaction.

Teitur was Miranda's Danish personal trainer.

"Miranda, Teitur's boyfriend might not like that." Andy grinned at her, offering kindly. "Trail mix." Knowing Miranda got really grumpy when she didn't eat.

"Choke on them."

That was her dragon.

"How did you remember about Teitur?"

"I just did. Teitur from Faroe adores you Miranda, but I really don't think he's open to a three way. Though you could ask him nicely."

Miranda's mouth dropped open.

"So you're going back to civilization called Manhattan. Open a Tinder account, swipe, date and knit and Instagram. Good luck with all that." Cognac eyes sparkling on hers.

Miranda wanted to wipe that big grin off Andy Sachs face.

Andy would never have known or guessed Mir was a knitting dragon. "I'll be sure to send you some yarn." Andy offered.

"I really hate you." Staring in disbelief at Andy continuing to calmly unpack her wet things, unlacing her squelching hiking boots, slipping off her socks to bare feet, squeezing out her damp socks to the dragon rant.

"Oh. Do you?" Andy spoke. Chancing a glance up.

"Yes, I do." Miranda's blue eyes narrowed on Andy who she gave a dirty look to, flickering hurt eyes saw it. Narrowing on it. That was burning.

What a tragedy. Miss August's big tits were on fire.

Andy had to buy that magazine that day at Walmart, to do what to with it. Not Papier Mache, Miranda hands shook.

Did Andrea like them like that? Augmented? Looking down at hers. Which were not like Miss August's.

Folding her arms over herself. "Is it because you can tell, I haven't been with a woman?" Miranda wanted to know.

Andy's head shot up. "Miranda that's not the reason."

"What is the reason? Andy tell me. A few hours ago you wanted me. And now you don't. You said you want me to be with Kit. What happened?"

Andy rubbed her face, tiredly, exhaling as she unrolled her sleeping bag out. "It's late. Here."

Miranda eyed it.

"I'm not sharing a sleeping bag with you."

"Sorry Miranda it is not the Hilton. I can't call for a room. You'll have to. This is going to be all night, just you and me."

This small cabin held only her and Miranda.

Miranda just stared at the sleeping bag crossly.

"You're going to get a cold. Mir just get your clothes off. " Andy pointed out. Noticing her wearing one of her fleece pullover that clung wet to her.

Miranda's mouth thinned on Andy. Get her clothes off. Just like that. Because Andrea says so. She would not.

"Miranda just do as you're told for once."

Furious blue eyes narrowed. She was not five years old, clenching her teeth. Shivering from being wet. Fine. She'd get her clothes off herself thank you and Andy had better not see one part of her naked.

"Fine. Be damp. I'm not going to be."

Blue eyes flew open wide by what Andy was beginning to do. "What are you doing?"

"Undressing." Andy needed to get her clothes off to dry.

Miranda turned around quickly, normally she liked the rain, the sound of it, but stuck in this place with someone who was like this with her, made being here just awful, no unbearable and she knew she should have turned around and gone to the party with Kit tonight, and then she wouldn't be here with Andy fucking I hate you Sachs.

The cabin was basic, Miranda looked to the windows, staring at the blurry reflection in the condensation on glass panes, her mouth dried as she couldn't drag her eyes away, watching through the glass reflection as Andy slipped off a clinging to her t-shirt, Miranda's saw her nipples were outlined taut through the cotton fabric as Andy began pulling down her shorts over long limber legs.

Wonderful, Andrea was naked, wet and close to her.

Tilting her head, she saw more of Andrea bending to arrange her clothes on a line.

Miranda glimpsed her lumber spine meeting her slim buttocks like a Frishmuth sculpture, frowning as she gracefully pulled on a slate colored oversized sweatshirt, covering herself.

"Here." Andy offered out to her a dry shirt. Miranda wouldn't take it. She wasn't wearing that. Scrunching her nose up at it.

Andy sighed at her, lying down, facing away from Miranda.

After a few minutes in silence, Andy felt the soft crush of her joining her, Miranda was taking most of the blanket to herself.

Lying here beside Andy, Miranda just listened to the rain.

"I'm reading the book Precious Bane… I miss delivery at midnight in NY… I'd like to try a $200 dollar hot dog…I think though it would be the same as Papaya King's. I have a Lu P. tattoo on my inner thigh… I don't sleep well. I like Mars Bar Yorkshire Puddings. I'm allergic to bees. I know sign language. My class has a pet hamster named Yoda. I get around twenty mugs as gifts from my students every holiday."

"What?" Miranda said out to her.

"Miranda you said you wanted me to share things with you, so that's what I'm doing for you." Andy spoke to her in the flickering lit room.

That wasn't what she meant, clenching her white teeth. "That's not what I meant."

Andy sucked her teeth, exhaling out loudly. "Miranda what else do you want from me. You said you wanted me to share things and when I do it's not enough for you. What more can I say to you?"

"I meant more than just that. Andrea I listened to your voice mail message for over a year and I've never deleted it. That night you kissed me, I wasn't ready for you. I hurt you after you kissed me. I wish you'd forgive me. Wait. Is that why you're doing this to me. Telling me to go."

Andy bit out. "No."

Miranda wished Andrea would turn around and face her. "You don't know Andy, how much you are scored on my heart. You were from the first day you walked in, and met me with your big smile and your ugly clothes and your complete inability to ever hide a single thing you felt from me.''

Only hearing Andy's breathing. Not responding with anything to say back. Miranda wiped at her own face. Her mascara was not waterproof from the rain and tears.

Andy swallowed at hearing about her message from the pay phone. Miranda kept it.

"Now you do hide things from me, This. I can see it in you. What is it?" Reaching out gently and resting her soft hand towards Andy who moved away from her touch.

"Can't you just tell me, if I mean anything to you, if you do love me or have any feelings for me, what is Rhodri Nolan to you?"

Andy squeezed her coppery eyes shut. Why did Miranda have to push her tonight?

So by Andrea's silence next to her, she didn't love her.

"Did he help you?"

"Rhodri Nolan raped me." Turning her wet slick face back to hers. Andy said this very softly, tight… like she was choking.

Miranda just stared at her.

She'd heard Andy's words. Digested them mutely, moving closer towards her. Her heart was like a drum, her whole body wracked with its beat. This person hurt, no he violated Andy.

"Don't." Andy warned out. Getting up and away, putting a distance between her and Mir.

Not letting Miranda ask.

"It was that night, just after I kissed you. I was so stupid…I wasn't paying attention and he just…Nate always said not to cut down that path…and I did. I was on the phone.

He just was there…I- I tried to fight back…I did…he just wouldn't stop…after, when he was done. Doña was with me through it, she heard him. He cut me here and then he raped me again as I was bleeding and dying."

Miranda silently took in what that meant.

"I was fueled by rage and fury for a long time about it. I didn't even know his name and he'd been inside me. My soul felt like a hurricane. Like I was left in pieces and I was."

Tears were streaming down hers and Miranda's faces in the firelight.

"You asked me if I wanted to hurt myself. Miranda. Only once. I almost did but I couldn't do it."

"I drink to be able to sleep."

Sniffling, wiping at her own tear stained face with her fingers and sleeve. "That's why you just need to go…get away from me. Go be with Kit. That's why I want…no…I need you to let go of me. Miranda you don't want to be with something like me. Trust me you don't."

"I can't do that."

Andy looked at her in disbelief.

"Why can't you?"

Fingers began to caress slowly along her face, touching Andy's side of her face. Pulling back from Andy, looking into her eyes.

"Andrea, I told you, you are scored on my heart. You're a part of me. Always."

Miranda's lips slowly began to softly press to Andy's scars on her face caressing with her lips the silvery ridges on the one from her eye to the corners of her lip.

"Let me inside Andrea." Whispering against her skin.

Miranda placed her face close to Andy's, her slick with rain fingers stroked her burnished hair, moving along her skin, tracing her defined brow with soft pads of fingertips, tears and the remainders of rain sliding unchecked down her high defined cheekbones, pressing her nose (which she always thought was too long and defined and large) against hers

Seeing with her own blue eyes, in these few minutes, Andy just watched her, transfixed by her actions as if she was drinking in my touch on her.

I was drinking in her more. Drinking in her skin and rid rimmed eyes avoiding mine.

"I don't know how." Andy confessed out.

Covering the side of her face, retreating and withdrawing to somewhere Mir knew she couldn't reach Andy in. No. Not where he was.

No. He wasn't here. Not with her here.

Miranda took a hold of her, she kissed Andy. Letting her sheening pink lips rest against hers, slowing the kiss she was giving, and her own glistening tears mingled with Andy's. Tasting the saline on Andy's apt face, brushing close to her lashes.

Andy just looked at her.

Knowing that tiny particles of herself were about to ebb and entwine to Andy and become hers and she becoming mine, lifting off the blanket and pulling off over her damp white head, the fleece she'd borrowed and worn, dropped to pool, as she unzipping her dress down over her hips.

Releasing her bra, her palms uncovering herself for Andy to see and love.

Undressing Andy slowly with trembling hands as she whispered words of love to her, into her skin which she was meeting and pressing every bit of herself against her.

Andy's lips slid to hers. Kissing them softly then more urgently.

Mir just held Andy naked in her arms, stroking her and continue to hold, and hold her, pressing her limbs close to her smooth longer body, melting into her slow gentleness, parting her legs as Andy nestled between them. Moving with her as Miranda twined her legs around Andy's waist, drawing her in, to stay put between her legs, feeling her own silvery entrance was slick as Miranda slender fingers contacted dark curls, rubbing Andy with such gentle fingers.

Feathering it so lightly, caressing the hood as Andy did the same to her, trembling inside as both began quivering in response to this loving, breathless as her mouth opened against hers becoming as one.

Quivering to her.

Stroking her back, Andy came against her as she joined her, bringing her mouth to Andy's as they climaxed.

Arching and lying back on the sleeping bag and floor, Andy wrapped the blanket around them more.

Later looking at her, lying beside her, listening to the teeming rain around them, Andy traced her still lips with her long fingers, holding her to her.

Kissing her face softly, Miranda was sleeping. Still pressed to her intimately.

A small noise of hunger momentarily stopped Andy's slender digits caressing milky skin as she looked into her open blue eyes that met hers.

"Feed me soon or face the consequences." Miranda warned out.

"Now you'll eat trail mix?" Andy teased. Getting it from her backpack, falling back onto her.

Threading her hands in Andy's short messy hair, their bare pelvises meeting, yanked closer, nipping her lips, ignoring the snack. Releasing her brunette's lips.

"So if this was your last hour, how would you spend it?" Andy asked, leaning up more on her elbow.

Miranda's bare milky skin was uncovered, seeing Mir's skin was so much paler then her own, like pure snow, enjoying placing small open mouth light kisses on her.

Grazing her fingers to slide lazily down Andy's spine, lowering to rest on her brunette's square shaped bare bum.

"Shoe shopping…" Andy made a face. "Finding a vintage Givenchy that fits me perfectly. Eating two shakes from Black Tap. It is my last hour. Also that Calvin Klein underwear model billboard I see every morning, from my office window, might be fun to get to know him better." Miranda teased Andy

Sobering at a look given by Andy. "This. Only this. With you is all I want if this is my last hour. And you?"

Andy's eyes held hers. Pretending to think about it, really hard. Receiving a pinched bum for taking so long. "Oww. I'd have to be naked. With a woman who I'm scored on her heart."

Miranda's mouth twitched, her silver forelock astray, "Oh so you'd spend your last hour with her only. Naked?"

"Yeah. It does make doing something like this a lot easier."

Returning Andy's sly smile, arching her breasts to meet Andy's. "Oh it does. Does it?"

Receiving from her naked brunette a deeper kiss.

Engrossed completely with Andy's mouth and tongue and her own heartbeat, not noticing the rain cleared up.